Story Blurb
Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.
In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.
Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.
When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.
But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power―and the devastating love that could be her downfall.
My Thoughts/Opinion
Note - I would suggest you read the novella Six Scorched Roses before you dive into this one.
Oh my goodness, the end of book one in this series left me on the edge of my seat so I was very excited to jump into this book. It continued to build an amazing world and the characters were even richer and more complex than the first book. I don't think it's a huge secret if you read the blurb above that Oraya and Raihn are broken. While I still really enjoyed this book and the duet's resolution, I felt like the first half of the book was a little slower than I would have liked. Totally totally worth sticking with it and I am very definitely excited to read the next duet in this series.
Favorite Quote:
...and when he spoke, I could feel his breath on my forehead. "Just want you to know, Oraya," he murmured, "that you were the best part of it. The best part of all of it."
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